I’ve been really rubbish at taking my own advice this week.
The first draft of my next novel is still oh-so-nearly ready to go, but I have not yet taken the plunge. I have managed to set up a new project in Scrivener – the word count target is there, and the slightly cursory deadline of the end of April. Essentially those are both contrived by how much I know I should be able to write in a day: 1500 words. And if I could do that – if every day I could sit down and just write – then in three months time I would have a novel.
Except to do that I actually need to carve out some time in my day for writing.
People are always really impressed when I tell them I wrote two novels before my son was eighteen months old. But do you know what? That was easy. Sure I was sleep deprived, but he napped twice a day! And other than keeping this blog ticking over during novel number two I didn’t really have all that much else to do.
It’s different now.
I sat down yesterday afternoon to write. I told myself I had to make a start – it didn’t matter if it was rubbish, I just needed to get some words on the page. But they just wouldn’t come! I had the setting and the characters, I knew vaguely what was supposed to be going on in the scene – but there was just so much going on in my head that I just couldn’t focus. More than that, I just couldn’t hear what it was my characters wanted to say.
My mind kept shifting to my to do list, fretting about the press release I have to write for the Town Council, the GCSE specification I need to appraise for Ofqual, the increasing numbers of unread emails in my inbox. And in the midst of all that, my characters stayed silent.
If there is going to be a novel number three, I need to accept that things are going to have to be different this time round.
I’m really lucky that Arthur still has one nap a day – though the fact he’s finally shifted from the sling to the sofa makes it more tempting to use the time for things less static than writing! And even when I am at the computer there are so many other things I need to be getting on with. My life has taken on a new and interesting shape over the past year or so. Vague ideas I had when I first went on maternity leave – like getting more involved in my community and taking on some education consultancy work – have come to fruition. Alongside that my increasing interest in Unschooling, and general reluctance to rush Arthur into formal education, means that he’s still with me most of the time.
So I’m going to need to find some more time, somewhere.
I’ve toyed with the idea of trying to write in the evenings. I might yet be able to do that, but if my brain is starting to sag by mid-afternoon I’m not sure how much creativity it’s going to be able to muster after dark. Besides I do need to fit in spending time with my husband at some point…
So I think, despite this testing my own perception of my abilities to the limit, I’m going to have to do my writing in the mornings.
I am saying this here mainly so you lot can hold me accountable. Ordinarily, I am pretty useless in the mornings. But I figure with Leigh getting up for work at 6am and Arthur tending to sleep till 7.30 there is chunk of time crying out to be used more effectively.
It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m beginning to think it might not be impossible. And to be honest, it’s either that or something else is going to have to give. And I haven’t worked out quite what that might be yet…
So pre-dawn writing sessions here we come. Wish me luck!
Sophie is... 
Good luck! I’m working on a novel but I work full-time and I have a 20 month old and a sick husband so the only time I have is very early mornings (before 6 am) and I HATE early mornings. How do I find the energy!
Ok – I’m going to stop complaining!! Super impressed. Good luck to you too 🙂
Complain away! I’m so impressed by you for having written two novels already. I think I spend more time complaining that I don’t have time to write than actually writing.
I so know what you’re saying here hon. Babies that have massive naps create tons of writing ops 😉 the morning sounds like a perfect chance to carve out some novel time. Best of luck lovely. Once you establish a routine you’ll be flying xxx
Thank you! You are, of course, one of my biggest inspirations for making the most of early mornings… My mistake was allowing myself to get way too used to sleep once Arthur stopped feeding all night!! xxx
Good luck with the mornings Sophie. I get up at 6am to get an hour of me time (either exercise or writing) and as I’m takin on more I’m even considering getting up earlier (although that is crazy). At least you have specific goals, that should definitely help in driving you forwards. Make sure you are kind to yourself if it doesn’t go exactly to plan, you have already achieved so much. xx
Thank you. I have a feeling taking control of my mornings might actually have quite a positive impact on my wellbeing – once I’ve got over the initial shock that is! xx
Mornings are more productive than late evenings, in my opinion. Just make sure you focus on the writing, not whether the dishwasher needs emptying or the list of things you need to do during the day. I have done this and it definitely works for me. Now I’m up at 6.30 for the dog, so my mornings start much earlier. give me a shout on Facebook though if you are feeling lonely or want some motivation!
Best of luck! You might find that this morning spot solely dedicated to writing does the trick.
I sometimes work or write in the evenings – while my husband plays guitar ;o) – and I find it goes really well, as there is nothing else requiring my attention. xx
I’m not a morning person either so I wish you the best of luck with that! It sounds like that 6 – 7.30 slot could be perfect though. I find my mind leaps around all the time too and my very nearly three year old dropped his nap over the summer so I really struggle to find time anyway! I look back at how productive I was when he was tiny and I’m amazed, I mean I barely slept, how did I get so much writing done?! Oh, I remember, I barely slept – there were more hours to write in! I’ve heard that morning hours are a very peaceful time to write (did you read Rachael’s post on Raising Mothers?) so maybe your mind will be more focussed then too. Thanks for linking to #whatImWriting xx
Good luck with adjusting to your morning routine Sophie! I have yet to return to the novel I started when my son was a baby (and napped twice a day!) but I do manage to do my morning pages most days, grabbing half an hour between 5 and 6.30am, depending on how late I went to bed… As Maddy said I wrote about it recently at Raising Mothers and although not by nature a morning person, there is something about those ‘in between’ hours when most of the world is still asleep…
I find I am more of a late night person so very good luck with all of this. I completely appreciate how hard this must be. I am one of those people who needs to write when the inspiration strikes – thankfully my daughter is 9! All the best with it all #WhatIAmWriting
Oh my days Sophie, I have to say that I don’t envy you. I’m much, much more of a late night person… usually just before I go off to bed! But then you probably don’t envy me with late night writing! Swings and roundabouts… 🙂